Ramming machines and derricks for the same



g- 1956 A. N. WAMPACH 2,758,575 RAMMING MACHINES AND DERRICKS FOR THE SAME Filed Dec. 5, 1950 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

, 14, 1956 A. N. WAMPACH 2,758,575

RAMMING MACHINES AND DERRICKS FOR THE SAME Filed Dec. 5, 1950' 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

Aug. 14, 1956 w c 2,758,575

RAMMING MACHINES AND DERRICKS FOR THE SAME Filed Dec. 5, 1950 3 SheetsSheet 3 IN V EN TOR.

5/0 58 mgolds Mam 95M j flw United States Patent '0 nnnmorzsinon THE -AloyseiNicolas=wampachplzuxembourg,Luxembourg ApplicationlDeceniber' 5,1950, SerialINo. 199,191

' Clai'ms' priorityfapplicationLuxembourg FDecember S, 1 9'49 io'claims. c1. .1'2s. '7

The'preserit invention relates to ramming machines operating according to'-'the di'ejse1 interna1-cornbustion'systern: "The said machinehas"forits'purposethe' ramming, or thetifiihng ofpiies;pileplanks an d for an'y'other driv- 'i1'1g -anb1'-rah1'niing'operations:

It is an object of the'p sent inventionitofprovide a ramming machinewith heflici'ency;

It is a further object-of the presentinventibn tofprovide a rannnihg machineirr'whichiheimpact(if tire strokecan be changeki in '-a"s'in'1ple" manner;

' *It 'is anadditionalobject of the' presenfinventior to provide a ramming jma'chine which consists "of t relatively few=and simpie *parts-'-wtii'c'h *wiliperfdrmwroubie free oVer aUonypei'iod; v

It is'yet anot'iier objectt the'presentiriverition to-"p'ro vide "a rammingmadiine" when "can he 'sta'r'tned very easily: 7

With the a'h'ove objects in"'view,"the present invention niainiwc'onsistsin a raninrin' macfiine orapparatns prising-supporvmeans, a evii-nder carried'by' the snpport meahs 'andhaving a rammingmemlierfixed to"its?bottom end',=aipiston* sl-iiiahle in thecyiin der apiston red fined to the -"piston and"extending"s-lfdably through" arid beyond the top end' 'ofthe cylinder, means c'ariied bydhe' ddinder fOr direCtinga" combustible mixture" beneath the piston" as the latter fail's downwardly to 'explod under the 1 piston and drive the latter together -vvithtlrie "piston rod' u 'a'wardii iin the evii-rideryahd a' weight removahly connectedto the fr'ee 'end of "the piston ro'fl'-=at thee terior of the cylinder to contfiihute to the rerce driving the istonn-ewnwardie in the cvlitidemvhereb theweigtit may be replaced y another Weight-"ofa diiferent size to chalrge the driViIig fQrce:

The cylinder of the maliine has preterabiy a top well formed with an opening th rough the piston" rod extends: T-he 'to'p -wa1 I is pre-frab1yalso formed with ames'ervo'ir for a dehyde-ant and c-arries iptitn means for pumping the luhricant from the reservoi o the' opening.

The cylin 'dercarries*fiirther injectionmeans fofiditect ingf w cdr nbustible r n ixture beneathft-h 'stonj as ih'e latter falls dewnwardly t'oexplodeurid Y the piston and-fdrive 1Tthe-'1same npwa-rdly'im the" cylinder.

During 'the upward i stroke: of the pis'ton the fluid bee tween the piston and the'top wall is'cornpressedafid serves totiactuate the pmnp- 'means, the injection meansi' and' tb scavengez the:cylinder. Y 1

The preferred embodiment shown in the drawings has also a'zcarriage mounted for up aud' doiv'n rnovemefit on thezisupport. fiTlris-rcarriageicarries arreleasable-pacifier engaging ithetwei'ght; ro raise' -t'he sam'e and-the isten with respect 11'0 'tnezrcyli'n'der' during upwar 'v'eme'ntficif the star n'gfposition;

teristi'c :for the' invention' are set forth in pafrtieular nthe appended claimsz. Theiinvention iitselfgihowever; hoth as to-its 1 construction andzits .imeth'odiofioperationmdgether with additional 2 objctsmrid advantagesithereoflii will :the bestunderstood from-the followingi descniptiomofrspecific 2,758,575 Petented Aug. 14, 1956' See shown .in Fig.1;

Fig. 3 is a' longitudinal sectional view of .the .fuel pump;

Fig. 4 is.a longitudinal sectionalfview'of .thelffuellinjection nozz le;

Fig. 5 .is a longitudinal sectional'view through the upper part of the cvlinde'r showing the. lubricating mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a section similar to Fig. 5 showingihelubri- .cating pump toan. enlarged scale;

Fig.7 is av lo'ngitudinal sectional view of amodified embodiment of the present 'invention;.and

FigQS'is alofigitudinal sectional'view of another,rnodi.- fiedemhodiment.

' The ramming machine-has a fixed cvlinderll tandsa .piston' 2" serving as ,aram which is adapted .to fall freely.

According to the present invention, illustratedimFigs. '1, 213,131; 'Sia'n'd "6' 6f thehanne'x'e'd 'dravvings theksaid pistbn'Z; in ifsl'rece'ding' motion is' interceptedfhy, .com pressed i. air. fTo this effect it is constructed so, as to havejt'wo different diameters andvlit'supper en'dt'vvhich/is of'fsmalle'r .diamet'e'r L than the ,Llower part. of thersa'id compre's'sed'in the upper cylinder portion doe'sfnotiofily intercept the ,piston 2, but also providesvtheisame with a high initial -velojcity'a't the moment ofits falli According to the present invention "the :conipr'es'sed 'air' obtainedTin' the" upper cilliriderf poition f isliilso'. used forf furtherfuhctions, namely:

' ("1 I Scavengingltheresidues of cornbustions,

(2') "Operatingfthe fuel pur'np 4 (Figs. 1 and- 4'),

(3)' Atomizing' the fuellinjected hy'the fuel pump.

'In the.upp'erfpfarto'fthe, eylinderl, and at-some distance through the channel 7 withvthe combustion chamber 8'. At "its entry in'to'th'e chambe'r'Sl er the channelTTisPIO: vided With' a check-valve "9; By means of this arrangemehtth'e -air compressediby the; piston '2 in' the "firstgphase of its receding'move'ment penetrates into the combustion chamber 8 as soon aslthe' lower surface of the liiston 2 hasdea'redth'e ei:haustfports '6 and'ithe check valve ,9 is relieved of the operatingpressureunder which; it" was loaded;

In."this"manner the residues of combustion are completely evacuatedtand the combustion chamber 81 is ffille'd Withfresh' 'air. This scavenging process 'is, stopped .7 as soon" as the"top""faceof the enlarged lower end' z offthe said'piston"2has'm0vedfpast the; aperture 5.

The'air locatedin'the upperpartof the cy1indei'..contin'ues ,tobe fui-thercompressed during the continued; up? wardmo'veme'nt" off the piston. .2; Adjacent to v the upper cover"10"of"the cylindenltis .ano ther aperture 11 which 'is' connecteirthrough' pipos'lZ'and 12a, respectively with thefue1 Jpump 4arid withltheinjection valve 514; The fuel pump 4and 'the' injection valve" 14 only schematically shownjin Fig; 1, are; respectively illustrated in detailin Figs 3"a'nd 4, a'nd"theconnections of 'the'Qipesll'Z amnza ism'ore clearly described in connection with the detailed showings of'pump"4"aridva1ve"14; 'Inthe pump 4 the're is mounted, on thepiston .15 and coaxialrtherewi'th an othetpiston 'lfi"whichactuates thepi'ston15 of the pump 4. "For this "purpose, p as v'villJbe described later; in nee-i1; this piston 1'5"isinfluen'cedbythe compressed air but only at" thetir'ne'when' the pressure'prevailingjin the upper part ofthe cylirider"'has'h'eenbuiltup'to such amount that the pressure produced in the fuel pumpcan over- V 3 I time compressed air is forced from the cylinder 1 through the aperture 11, the pipes 12 and 12a and the air inlet 65 of the pump 4 under the piston 16 thereof and raises the piston 16 and the fuel pumping piston 15 to the position shown in Fig. 3. Fuel enters in the space above the piston 15, when the latter is in its lowest position, through the fuel inlet 66 and this fuel is ejected through the fuel outlet 67 during the rise of the two pistons 15 and 16. The fuel outlet 67 is connected through a conduit not shown in the drawings with the fuel inlet 68 of the injection valve. The fuel inlet 66 of the pump is connected through a conduit to a fuel reservoir (not shown) and a check valve of any known construction is provided, as usual, in this conduit between the fuel reservoir and the pump so that the fuel can flow only in'the direction from the reservoir to the pump.

According to the present invention, the injection valve 14 is designed in such manner that the fuel, injected through the central bore 13, and controlled by the needle valve 17 loaded by the spring 17a, is carried forward by the compressed air issuing from the circular chamber 18 and is finely atomized. As mentioned above the injection valve 14 and the connection of the pipe 12 thereto is only schematically illustrated in Fig. 1. The lower end of pipe 12 communicates with an annular recess 69 of the injection valve 14 and this annular recess 69 in turn communicates through openings 70 with the circular chamber 18 provided in the injection valve 14 (see Fig. 4). The injection valve 14 is disposed in the cylinder body in such manner that the injected fuel strikes the impact surface of the member 19 while the piston 2 is in its upper position.

The piston 2 atomizes in its fall the fuel further so that a thorough mixing and a perfect combustion of the injected fuel is obtained. During the fall of the piston 2 a vacuum is created in the cylinder 1 above the piston body 2' and this vacuum is extended through the pipes 12 and 12a intothe space below the piston 16 of the fuel pump 4. Therefore, atmospheric pressure acting on the top surface of the piston 16 will return during this period the piston 16 and the fuel piston 15 connected thereto to the starting position.

According to this invention the part of the piston 2 which projects beyond the stufiing-box 3, carries interchangeable weights 20 of various values. Therefore in increasing or reducing the weights the same ramming unit may be used for any ramming operation.

In view of this feature, the fuel pump 4 is constructed in such a way that its stroke, and therefore its discharge capacity, is adjustable. In Fig. 3 such an arrangement of pump 4 is shown in vertical section. 15 is the piston of the pump and 16 is the compressed air control piston. The piston rod 41 passes through the lower cover 42 of the cylinder and is sealed by a stuffing-box 21. Mounted on the bottom face of cover 42 is the stop member 22 in the form of a cap and the rod 41 carries at its lower end a number of discs 23 by which arrangement the stroke of the pump can be controlled. By removing for example one of these discs 23 and placing it under the nut 24 and below the cap 22, the stroke of the pump is decreased by the thickness of this disc. If the same is done with the second disc 23 the strokeof the pump will be further reduced by the thickness of this other disc. In this way a simple means is available for adapting the stroke of the pump to any particular weight 20 which may be mounted at the top of the piston 2, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

To start the ramming machine it is necessary, according to the usual practice, to bring fuel manually under the raised piston 2. For this purpose the lever 25 (Fig. )is used which serves" simultaneously for the adjustment of the stroke in service and in idle condition of the ramming machine.

The manner of operation of this lever, which is con: veniently actuated through a cable 25a, will be understood without further description by reference to Fig. 3.

As already stated, before starting the ramming machine the operating piston 2 should first be raised. This work is performed by means of a winch mounted on the platform of the ramming derrick, by means of which the ramming machine is also positioned on the pile to be rammed.

For this purpose a catching or pick-up device 27 is provided which is guided on the body of the derrick 26 and suspended from the winch cable 28. In order to enable the greatest possible amount of the height of the derrick 26 to be used the guiding carriage 29 of the catching or pick-up device 27 is moved between the two guiding arms 30 and 31 of the body of the ramming machine cylinder 1 and the two pick-up boards 32 are made long enough for the claw 33 to engage under the weight 20, mounted upon the piston 2, when the carriage 29 occupies its lower position. In the upper position of the ramming structure, in which the upper guide arm 30 of the cylinder 1 abuts against the pulley 34, the cable 28 being secured to the carriage 29, the weight 20 may be raised well above this pulley. The operation of the engaging device for the claws 33 will be obvious from Fig. 1 without further explanation.

It results from the foregoing that the rammer, in full working order, should be secured onto the pile to be rammed. To obtain this object, according to the present invention, the pick-up device 27 suspended from the cable 28 is coupled with the body of the cylinder 1 of the ramming machine. For this purpose the two pick-up boards 32 are extended downwards beyond the carriage 29 and both these extensions are located between the two flanges 39 of the cylinder guide arm 31. A spike 35 inserted therein couples both parts in the simplest possible way. The two pick-up boards are suitably guided by a roller 36 secured to the head of the cylinder 1, so that they cannot deviate to either side. To avoid the possibility that, during the receding motion of the piston 2, the ramming cylinder 1 be displaced above the pile to be driven by the compression occurring in the upper portion of cylinder 1, a clamping device is provided on the guiding carriage 29 consisting of two bellcrank levers 44 (Fig. 2) resting with their longer arms, toothed at their ends, against the inner walls of the derrick 26, while their shorter arms, directed downwards, are interconnected by means of a spring 43' which causes the longer arms to be pressed against the inner walls of the derrick. Two cables 28 are secured to the ends of the long arms of the levers 44 in order to separate the same from the walls of the derrick 26 when desired. This is necessary if the carriage alone, or any ramming structure, is to be lifted. During the lifting movement the two long arms of the levers 44 are abutting against the projections 45.

To provide for an automatic lubrication of the ramming machine, forming the subject matter of the present invention, the arrangement shown in Figs. 5 and 6 has been provided and will now be described. To this effect the cover. 10 of the cylinder 1 is formed in order to provide a reservoir 51 (Fig. 5) for the lubricating oil in which a pump 52 is mounted, the supply piston 53 of which is in the form of a stepped piston, that is to say that it is of two different diameters. Its circular projecting surface is subjected to the pressure of the spring 54 (Fig. 6) which causes the backward stroke of the pump piston.

The lubricating oil in the reservoir 51 enters into the pump cylinder chamber through the bore 56. The spring actuated check-valve 57 controls the operation thereof. As soon as, owing to the backward motion of the piston 2, sufiicient compression has been produced in the circular chamber 50 of the operating cylinder 1, the said compression acting through the aperture 58 upon the larger surface of the pump piston 53, this piston is advanced and, after closing of the bore 56, the amount of lubricating oil contained in the chamber 55 is fed through the check-valve 57 into the circular chamber 59. The cover plate .of -the-cylinder 1 is bored-at its lowerflend to rodandthere'by lubricates not only this rod but also .theenlarged end Zof the piston 2. As the} piston 2 falls, the pressure in i the circular chamber .50 1 drops, and the piston 53 ofthe pump Y is again raised E by the spring 54, the'lubricating oil-again'flows intozthe chamber SS-and the operating described above is repeated.

'Foradjusting the amount of'lubricating oil a set screw 61 is provided, and its-= head, striking the ring 62, Y being adapted to limit the stroke ofthe pump. The nearer -:the head of this 'screw' 6'-will be tothe piston-53,1 thesmal-ler 'will-be-the stroke and the "amount of oil fed 'by the pump. The'ring'62-serves'toilimit the stroke at the upward'movement of the piston 53 of the 1 pump.

Thenew ramming machine, 'as described above, will lse-operated 'asfollows: =A'fter having located the pile to bedriven, the rammer' is placed omthe. pile in the above described manner. The 'cla'w 37 engages under-the member '19 I and thereby preventing it from': slipping out of its iguide'inthe lower part of the cylinder 1. -In removingthe spike 35 the cylinder *1 an'd'the pick-up device 27 are'uncoupled. At the same time -the claw "37 -is reversed-upwards and is'secured inthis position by means-of the'spike' 35which is'inserted in the bore 40. Thereafter the operating pi'ston-Z-israised by means-10f the' pick-up device 27 sufiiciently high' thatf by operating theleve'r25, the fuel pump willbe abletoiinject fuel for the first time. Finally the ramming :piston-Z is' ca'rriedup to its full height-and the pick-up device is :ope'nedg and releases the piston-which falls then freely.

The combustion chamber '8 is dimensioned that. the air containedtherein iscompressed to m'ore'tltan 30 kg. per-sq. cm.by*th e falling mass 'of theipiston, thereby causing self-ignition of the injected fueli Therresulting explosion throws the piston-'2 back upwards again In the firstpart. of thisupward motion, aftenexhaustiof' the residues of combustion; the scavenging of the combustion chamber -8 is efiected, and "thereafter, the pistonhaving move-d higher, the gradual compression of the air iin the upper? part of the cylinder takespla ce. "By'imeans of this compressed air, "as alreadydescribed heretobefore, the*fuel pump is set into motion and at' the' sa'me time the injectedfuel isfinely atomized. The-weight of -the piston falling freely "with considerable velocity due "to' th'e compressed air in the upper part of thecylinder, performs itsfirst full operatin'gimpact 'on the pile and ag'aincompresses the air=fuel= mixture,'-' and -the' said operations are then? repeated.

:From the above description of the pile and pilepla'nk ramming 5 machine 1 it appears clearly that, at f the upward istroke of the piston, the 'air located in "the circular'chamberof' the cylinder is compressed 'and-is 'used for several-other functions,'that is fo'r: Fuel l 'p'ump control, 'fuel"atomization, 'formation of i a 'b'u'ife'r in' the upper part of l the' cylinder' and especially for f the evacuation of the burnt -gases fromthe combustion 'chamber, which 'is particularly important 'for a "perfect combustion.

A"m'odification of the present invention is shown in Fig.7 of theaccompan'yi'ng drawings. This modification in the con'struction'has for its' purpose to'ensurea complete evac'uation of I the residues of I combustion from the lower portionof the cylinder chamber and its complete filling 'with' fresh air,by meansof the following "arrangementz' An intermediate striking'member 46, having the formofa'hollow piston, being sealed'by 'a'numbe'rof piston rings,' is inserted between the impact'su'rface'sof the ram 2 and the member 19.

The operation is as follows: Theair, compressed in-the circular-chamber"47,-enters through the aperture Sfi-and the; channel '7 into the space-under-thestriking.m'ernber 46,. As soon :as thepiston 2' has cleared with its 'lower edge -the exhaust, port 6, the intermediate strikin'gsmem- "1961346: sslides alsompwards until the lowen edge-==of.- the same: has-\moved epast theaexhaustt port :6.- =During this .zproducesdtsstriking effect, The-air locatednin the jchatnher under the-intermediatestrikingzmember 46 is-ex- "pelled through the channel? 7 into the-.circularr-chamber 47= and fresh air-enters through the-exhaust port -6, .fil'lin'g the lower part of the cylinders; whichxairis thereafter compressed by the piston- 2 tuntilwthe rnecessary igniting temperature is obtained.

According-{tow this arrangement: the: completedischarge l of'=-thetresidues-:of1 combustion: from the; lower part loff the cylinder is obtained: and!- also the complete lfillin'g with vfresh air,v which-are 1 two essential? necessities for "a faul-tless operatiomanda higheificienoy."

TheimodificatiomslroWn :in :Fig; 7 has *also the further advantagethat. the checkevalvefi 1(Fig.' 1) -as'-we1l as. anothencheck-vrilve: located-inthe coverw1'0 (the :latter; .being necessaryfor filling :the-Lc'ircular: chamber during ;the fall of-tthepiston '2)1 are bot-hssuperfiuousr lttisadvisable that -the circular: chamber47 isdimensioned: was to introduce \under-.the:StrikingAmemben- EG=the airnecessaryto hold onl'y. t'hiSriHtEljl'flQdlfltfi mem-b'en 46 Esuspended for: the time required to evacuate all the combustion:residues,; but care mustwbe taken Zthat-theilowerwedge of the-striking mem- -.ben 46- w ill .not clear.-theriexhaustiport 6;; thus-an oscillatr ing-icolum-n 'ofvainis-Icreated' between thencircular chamber 47 andtthe space 48 under-the-striker member 46.

Fig. ,8;-shoWs-=anothen embodiment vof a diesehoperated .rammer-.as=des'cribed, vwh ichlis; provided with annintermediaternember46 betweenttheistrikin g:surfacesbf the rampiston-12 and tthe member: 19. -.In .-thisarran'gement the :airrrcolumn oscillating between the? chambers 47 -iand P48 --is ireplaced by a spring 49.- This spring: is: dimensioned that, in the position shown in: Fig.8, wherein: the interme- -diate -mem'ber-.Y46 is-isupportediby the spring*.49,-lan intake shambenis lformed-lbetween this member 46-and thecylinder. of the .m ember; 19."

The operation is as follows: The ram-piston-2",=r eady to drop afterx having-coveredt the exhaust port 6; compresses ithe l fresh airin the charn'ber 8; This compression causes the intermediate member=46 to move until. it touches-the top part of thermember l9v The im act-of theypistona'f results infurther compressing the; springr49 and pushing the member 1-9Ido'WnWards-in proportion with the progress of @the ramming'work'. 'In 1 this way slanting strokes liable-to have:a-destructive influence on? the cyl indert-lwareavoided. -After the rammingfworkzis completed theipiston.2 isthrown upwards by the explosion: As soon as'it chas cleared the exhaust; port 6 the: mixture, compressed-in the chamben8 escapes therefrom and .the intermediate member '46'aismoved upwardsiby the exp ansionof the spring 149,- which, as' described above, Lhas been put-under high compression during, the operating stroke of the ram 2..

. According, to thisarrangement the force of the spring-49 has been calculated in such mannerthat itthrows up'the rannpiston high enough. in" order'not only to exhaust all thecombustion residuesE-through the port*6', but to'produce at'thesarne time avvacuum inrthe chamber-8. This vacuum,.- together with the 1 gravity of the member 46,- causes. thetlatt'er. to drop back 1 to the illustrated I position. In=this construction in: which .the spring 49 is provided the ram-piston 2" may alsobe designed'without-a'stop"'and notes a piston of two different diameters. I

All the. forms, arrangements and'operationsof the elements constituting the assemblies "of .the' presentpile and pileplank r rammersa'nd the' 'derric'lrs for such rammers have'been -described in various modifications and illustrated in" the drawings for the proper understanding of the devices.- However, it will be understood'that'the arrange'mentsand-i mechanisms described illustrated may,

in practice, be modified in their details of construciton in any suitable way without exceeding the scope of the present invention.

Having now particularly described my invention what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A diesel type ramming apparatus comprising, in com bination, a cylinder having an exhaust opening; a piston mounted for sliding movement in said cylinder; a ramming member located in said cylinder at one end thereof; and an intermediate member slidably mounted in said cylinder between said ramming member and said piston to sweep combustion gases out through said exhaust opening of said cylinder.

2. A diesel type ramming apparatus comprising, in combination, a cylinder having an exhaust opening; a piston mounted for sliding movement in said cylinder; a ramming member located in said cylinder at one end thereof; an intermediate member slidably mounted in said cylinder between said ramming member and said piston to sweep combustion gases out through said exhaust opening of said cylinder; and spring means located in said cylinder and being operatively connected to said intermediate member for urging the same toward said piston so that when the latter moves upwardly after an explosion in said cylinder, said intermediate member will also move upwardly under the action of said spring means to remove combustion gases from said cylinder.

3. In a ramming apparatus, in combination, support means; a cylinder carried by said support means and having a ramming member fixed to its bottom end; a piston slidable in said cylinder; a piston rod fixed to said piston and extending slidably through and beyond the top end of said cylinder; means carried by said cylinder for directing a combustible mixture beneath said piston as the latter falls downwardly to explode under said piston and drive the latter together with said piston rod upwardly in said cylinder; and a weight removably connected to the top free end of said piston rod at the exterior of said cylinder to contribute to the force driving said piston downwardly in said cylinder, whereby said weight may be re placed by another weight of a different size to change said driving force.

4. In a ramming apparatus, in combination, support means; a cylinder carried by said support means and having a ramming member fixed to its bottom end, said cylinder having a top wall formed with an opening passing therethrough and formed with a reservoir for a lubricant; a piston slidable in said cylinder; a piston rod fixed to said piston and extending slidably through said opening of said top wall and beyond the latter; means carried by said cylinder for directing a combustible mixture beneath said piston as the latter falls downwardly to explode under said piston and drive the latter together with said piston rod upwardly in said cylinder; pump means carried by said top wall for pumping a lubricant from said reservoir to said opening of said top wall; and means for actuating said pump means with fluid in said cylinder located between said top wall thereof and piston when the pressure of said fluid reaches a given value during upwardmovement of said piston in said cylinder.

5. In a ramming apparatus, in combination, support means; a cylinder carried by said support means and having a ramming member fixed to its bottom end, said cylinder having a top wall formed with an opening passing therethrough and formed with a reservoir for a lubricant; a piston slidable in said cylinder; a piston rod fixed to said piston and extending slidably through said opening of said top wall and beyond the latter; injection means carried by said cylinder for directing a combustible mixture beneath said piston as the latter falls downwardly to explode under said piston and drive the latter together with said piston rod upwardly'in said cylinder; pump means carried by said top wall for pumping a lubricant from said reservoir to said opening of said top wall; first actuating means for actuating said pump means with fluid in said cylinder located between said top wall thereof and piston when the pressure of said fluid reaches a given value during upward movement of said piston in said cylinder; and second actuating means communicating with said cylinder between said top wall and piston thereof and with said injection means for actuating the latter also with fluid in said cylin der between said top wall thereof and said piston.

6. In a ramming apparatus, in combination, support means; a cylinder carried by said support means and having a ramming member fixed to its bottom end, said cylinder having a top wall formed with an opening passing therethrough and formed with a reservoir for a lubricant; a piston slidable in said cylinder; a piston rod fixed to said piston and extending slidably through said opening of said top wall and beyond the latter; injection means carried by said cylinder for directing a combustible mixture beneath said piston as the latter falls downwardly to explode under said piston and drive the latter together with said piston rod upwardly in said cylinder; pump means carried by said top wall for pumping a lubricant from said reservoir to said opening of said top Wall; first actuating means for actuating said pump means with fluid in said cylinder located between said top wall thereof and piston when the pressure of said fluid reaches a given value during upward movement of said piston in said cylinder; second actuating means communicating with said cylinder between said top wall and piston thereof and with said injection means for actuating the latter also with fluid in said cylinder between said top wall thereof and said piston; and fluid guiding means carried by said cylinder for guiding fluid in said cylinder, between said top wall thereof and said piston, to the space in said cylinder beneath said piston during upward movement of the latter for replacing the products of combustion with said fluid, whereby the fluid between said top wall of said cylinder and said piston is used for actuating said pump means, for actuating said injection means, and for scavenging.

7. In a ramming apparatus, in combination, support means; a cylinder carried by said support means and having a ramming member fixed to its bottom end, said cylinder having a top wall formed with an opening passing therethrough and formed with a reservoir for a lubricant; a piston slidable in said cylinder; a piston rod fixed to said piston and extending slidably through said opening of said top wall and beyond the latter; injection means carried by said cylinder for directing a combustible mixture beneath said piston as the latter falls downwardly to explode under said piston and drive the latter together with said piston rod upwardly, in said cylinder; pump means carried by said top wall for pumping a lubricant from said reservoir to said opening of said top wall; first actuating means for actuating said pump means with fluid in said cylinder located between said top wall thereof and piston when the pressure of said fluid reaches a given value during upward movement of said piston in said cylinder; second actuating means communicating with said cylinder between said top wall and piston thereof and with said injection means for actuating the latter also with fluid in said cylinder between said top wall ther of and said piston; first fluid guiding means carried by said cylinder for guiding fluid in said cylinder, between said top wall thereof and said piston, to the space in said cylinder beneath said piston during upward movement of the latter for replacing the products of combustion with said fluid; and second fluid guiding means operatively connected to said injection means for directing part of the fluid between said top wall of said cylinder and said piston into the combustion chamber beneath said piston, whereby said fluid between said piston and said top wall of said cylinder is used for actuating said pump means, for actuating said injection means, and for scavenging.

8. In a ramming apparatus, in combination, a cyl' linder carrying a ramming member at its bottom end and having-a top wall formed with an opening passing therethrough; support means carrying said cylinder and supporting the same for movement up and down to change the elevation of said cylinder; a piston slidable in said cylinder and having a piston rod extending slidably through said opening of said top wall and upwardly beyond the latter; a weight fixed to a free end of said piston rod located outside of and above said cylinder; a carriage carried by said support means for up and down movement therealong beside said cylinder; and releasable catch means carried by said carriage for engaging said weight to raise the latter, and said piston rod and piston therewith, with respect to said cylinder during upward movement of said carriage on said support means for moving said piston to a starting position.

9. In a ramming apparatus, in combination, support means; a cylinder carried by said support means and having a top wall formed with an opening passing therethrough and formed with a reservoir for a lubricant and with a passage means providing communication between said reservoir and opening; non-return valve means located in said passage means for allowing lubricant to flow only from said reservoir toward said" opening; piston means slidably carried by said top wall for urging lubricant through said non-return valve means from said reservoir to said opening; a ramming piston slidably located in said cylinder; a piston rod fixed to said latter piston and extending slidably through said opening of said top wall; and second passage means in said top wall for directing fluid under pressure from the space between said top wall and ramming piston during upward movement of the latter to said piston means for actuating the latter to move lubricant through said valve means to said opening, whereby the upward movement of said ramming piston itself compresses fluid in said cylinder to assure lubrication of said piston rod, the lubricant flowing down the piston rod to the ramming piston for lubricating said piston for movement in said cylinder.

10. In a ramming apparatus, in combination, support means; a cylinder carried by said support means and having a ramming member fixed to its bottom end; a piston slidable in said cylinder; a piston rod fixed to said piston and extending slidably through and beyond the top end of said cylinder; injection means carried by said cylinder for directing a combustible mixture beneath said piston as the latter falls downwardly to explode under said piston and drive the latter together with said piston rod upwardly in said cylinder; a weight removably connected to the top free end of said piston rod at the exterior of said cylinder to contribute-to the force driving said piston downwardly in said cylinder, whereby said weight may be replaced by another weight of a diiferent size to change the driving force; and adjusting means operatively connected to said injection means for adjusting the amount of combustible mixture supplied by the same in accordance with magnitude of the particular weight connected to said piston rod.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 985,012 Dargin Feb, 21, 1911 1,917,066 Schalscha July 4, 1933 2,000,908 Adams May 14, 1935 2,046,323 De Wolfe July 7, 1936 2,128,584- Haage Aug. 30, 1938 2,167,983 Kiecksee Aug. 1, 1939 2,192,091 Millam Feb. 27, 1940 2,203,384 Douglas June 4, 1940 2,246,701 Steiner June 24, 1941 2,396,627 Wohlmeyer Mar. 12, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS 18,909 Great Britain 1903 452,564 Great Britain 1936 628,016 Great Britain Aug. 19, 1949 

